Expansion joint



May 25, 1937. E.V E. HALL ET AL `Re. 20,378

EXPANSION JOINT Original Filed Aug. 12, 1932 2 Sheets-Sheet l /nyenfora Er/c E. Hall and Wil/iam H E {che/man. 59%

May 25, 1937. E. E. HALL ET AL EXPANSION JOINT Original Filed Aug. ll?, 1952 A2 Sheets-Sheefl 2 FIG.

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/n l/ emcrsv Eric E Ha/l and Will/'am H Elche/man 5g @426 Hamey.

Reiasued May 2 5, 19,37

UNITED sTATEs PATENT OFFICE am j j ExrANsroN :om

Eric E. Hall, Chicago, and William ll. Eiohelman,

- DesPlaines,

Ill., assignors. by direct and meme assignments, of one-fourth tosaid Eichelman and one-fourth to-James E. Whealan, Chicago, lll., and one-haii to James li. 0Brien, trusteev Original No. 11,958,391, dated May 8, 1934, Serial No. 628,576, August l2. 1982.

Application for l'elltlle October 1, 1934, Serial No. 746,470

v zev claim.

Our present invention relates to improvements in expansion joints for-monolithic concrete construction, precast slabs and the like. It is apexpansion joint that will eKectively join the slabs and allow oi an independent linear movement, due to expansion or contraction, and at the same time seal the vjoining of these slabs watertight. Another object of this. invention is to provide an expansion joint which will further serve as a screed. easilyvto be installed and accurately located relative to the depth or thick- .nessv oi' slab.

It will moreover be seen that with our construction, such reilnement as the securing of adjacent monolithic structures or slabs, the anchoring of the same together, allowing for movement, and the making of the joint watertight may be secured with little, if any, additional expense.

'We attain the foregoing objects by means of the structure illustrated in the attached drawingsz- Fig. 1 is an. isometric view of a section of the expansion joint shown aiilxed to the-grade stake. Fig. 2 is a vertical transverse-section through the expansion joint unit itself shown in the compact form and in the manner .Y in which it shipped to the job ready for assembly.

Fig. 3is a similar transverse section through the joint installed, connecting two (2) monolithic siabs.\ v

Figg'1`4' is an enlarged diagram of the sealing member shown engaging the slabs as` initially installed and prior to the subsequent movement ofv the slabs.

Fig. 5 is\a like view showing the relative positions of the seal and slabs after the slabshave contracted, 'and Fig.' 6 is a view similar to Figs. 4 and 5 showing the relative -positions of the seal and sla after the slabs have expanded.

Similar reference. characters refer to similar parts throughout the respective views.

It will be recognized that this joint is Areadily applicable to precast onmonolithic walls, but fo'r purposes of description. only, we 'prefer to describe the joint in combination with floor slabs,

or road construction.

Our expansion joint can advantageously be made from a strip of flexible material, preferably sheet copper, comprising a seal consisting of a 5 hairpin i'old with inclined sides 5 and 6, terminating in laterally extending webs-or anchors 1 and I. The top of the hairpin fold preferably is beaded, forming a ridge 8 at the top. 'I'he webs 'l and l at intervals along their outer edge are provided with lugs ill,v4 of the same metal as the webs themselves, which-lugs are turned back against the webs 1 and 8 and are adapted to receive and' lock in place strips of fabric or metal lath Il,A as clearly indicated in Fig. 1 of the I5 drawings. I 4

Supporting the seal ofthe expansion joint just described, and secured thereto, preferably by means of brazing or soldering', is a stool, comprised of two l(il) inclined wallv structures or sup- 20 Y ports Il and i3, the bottom edges of which are flared outwardly at ii and Il to act as feet or supports for the stool. Tying together and connecting these bottom feet I4 and IB is a at transverse strip Il, which is flanged over the outer edges at I'I and It to lock and form a seam definitely positioning the feet and the support. In bending this metal back, a space or opening is. left between the outer edge'of the feet il and I5 and the inner edge of the folds il and I I, which will allow of a substantial transverse movement of the members I2 and Il.

In assembling the expansion joint for shipment to the job, wood moulding in two (2) pieces as indicated in Fig. 2 reference characters il 35 and Il, is fitted to the contour of the hairpin fold and ridge sovthat the top of the wooden moulding has a definite relationship to the top of the expansion joint itself. 'I'he lateral arms or webs l and l are bent Iupwardly and adjacent to this wooden moulding and Vthe metal lath is further carried up and around the moulding as' clearly indicated. 'I'his facilitates shipment to the job and the handling in the field. The wooden members il` and 4il" further serve the pur- 45 pose of dennitely locating the expansion joint in the slabs and when installed serves as a screed, as hereinafter described.

The installation and operation oi' the expension ioint above described is as follows:-

Grade stakes indicated at Il, are positioned at intervals in lines and at points where the expansion joint is`to be laid. -These grade stakes are set at an exact pre-determined elevation relative to the concrete slabs themselves. The 55 expansion joint then is set in strips connecting the grade stakes and is nailed or screwed to them as indicated at 2|. The wooden moulding is left in place. The webs 1 and B are bent down to extend outwardly in their transverse position, as is also' the metal lath. The grading 22 of the ground is brought up to the top of the grade stakes.Y T'he concrete is poured in slabs 24 and 25 on both sides of the expansion joint, either at separate intervals or both sides maybe poured at the same time. 'I'he top of the wooden mould- -ing will then act as a screed against which the.' workman nishes his concrete surface. When the concrete has set up, the wooden moulding being in' two pieces, is easily removed; thus. leaving an opening between the slabs of concrete, which opening is to be cleaned out thoroughly and then filled, preferably with a bitumen or hot pitch, or asphalt preparation 23. '.ll'his makes a watertight construction, as the hot pitch or tar will adhere tothe concrete and also to the seal and prevent water from seeping through the joint. The. ridge or-'bead 9 will then-hold this filling down in place after it has hardened, as the bead forms a definite shoulder against sectional displacement. At the same time, when the respective slabs either expand or contract, the .hairpin and substructure will move either inwardly or outwardly without effecting the destruction of the joint, as the metal lath being east integral with the slabs and aiiixedy to the web of the seal permanently and denitely anchors the expansion joint in place. l y

The hairpin fold of the flexible seal extends above and acts independently of the cushioning air space in the stool, moving together and spreadingout with the expansion and contraction of the slabs in which itsV anchors 1 land l are firmly embedded.

Figure 4 of the drawings diagrammatically iilustrates the relative position of the seal and filler installed between adjacent slab sections at the time of installation and prior to the movement occasioned by either expansion or contraetion of the slabs.

Figure 5 in a similar manner illustrates the relative position of the seal and ller subsequent to the lateral movement `or diverging or spreading out of the slabs due to the contraction of the slabs and the resultant expansion or opening up of the joint, and

Figure 6 is again a like view to Fig. 4, and in a like manner illustrates the relative position of the seal and filler subsequent to the movement occasioned by the expansion of the slabs and the resultant closingv up or moving together of the walls of the seal.

Figures 4, 5, and 6 are presented to graphically illustrate the basic principles involved in applicants' particular combination of a specic type of seal and a specic design of ller in combination with a stool'eil'ecting an' air space or cushion below the seal and through the entire slab depth Vor cross section.

This structure, including the seal and the ller 23, provides ameans whereby the sealing eil'ect of the flller between the ends of vthe slab sections is maintained as the dimension of the space be-v tween the slab sections 24 and 25-either increases or decreases. This advantage is accomplished by virtue of the construction of the seal and the Y Placing ofthe yieldable filler 23, and the particular arrangement of certain portions thereof relative to the walls 5 and 8 of the seal and the ends ofthe slab sections. It will be noted with refersoave y ence to Fig. 4 of the drawings, that the walls 5 and 6 of the hairpin fold are spaced from the respective ends of the slab sections, also that the filler has a' portion which bridges this space and has legs such as 30 and 3| which are disposedwithin the respective spaces provided between each of the walls 5 and B of the seal and the end ofl an adjacent slab section.

The construction of the seal and the relative arrangement of the legs, of the yieldable filler, walls 5 and 6 of the seal, and the ends of the slabs, provide meanswhereby the sealing effect between the ller, the walls 5 and 6 of the seal, and the slab sections is uninterruptedly maintained as the dimension of the space between'the portions and the walls 5 and 5 of the seal, and

the ends of the respective slab sections. This likewise results in eliminating the separation of the ller and the ends of the slab sections, and insures against the` infiltration or intrusion of water, dirt, etc. into -the space between the slab sections and the seal.

We have made mention above that the hairpin fold of the joint should preferably be of copper. At this point it is Well to note that the sub-structure or support of the hairpin fold itself may be constructed of iron, as this structure tends only to lsupport the hairpin fold during pouring, and after the concrete hastaken its final set, the

bottom support has served its purpose as a form and support, and should it become .corroded and be wasted away, 1t wm not affect the finished' joint. 'I'he same applies to the wooden grade stakes.

It is wen to mention at this point also that whereas we have shown and specified throughoutv a metal fabric being secured to the lugs l0, it is our desire to make mention of the fact that webs l and 8 may themselves be extended further than as shown in the drawings and either be corrugated or perforated so that a concrete bond may be made through the openings and stili coml of said walls providing means for forming a bond between said flanges and the material in which said flanges are adapted to be embedded, a member providing a screed, said screed having a groove for the reception of said wa11s, a support for said first mentioned member, said support having a Abase and means extending from said base into vcooperation with said walls to hold said walls in spaced relation to each other.

an outwardly extending element arranged at the walls movable relatively to each other at the bend,

the material forming said walls being bent to provide an outwardly projecting extension at the lower edge of each of said walls, a support forv said member, said support having spaced walls,

the upper terminations of said walls being located within the space provided between said spaced walls of said vmember and providing means assisting to hold said walls of said member 1n spaced relation to each other.

4. In a device of the kind described, the combination of a member formed oi' a piece of resilient material bent upon itself to provide spaced walls movable relatively to each other at the bend,

said material being formed to provide a bead at said bend, the material forming said walls being bent to provide an outwardly projecting extension at the lower edge of each of said walls, a

y support for said member, said support having spaced walls, the upper terminations of said walls being located within the space provided between said spaced walls of said member and providing means assisting to hold said walls of said member in spaced relation to each other.

5. In a device of the kind described, the combination of a member formed of a piece of resilient material bent upon itself to provide spaced walls movable relatively to each other at the bend, the material forming said walls being bent to provide an outwardly projecting extension at the lower edge of each of said walls, said extensions having means whereby a fabric may be attached \thereto, a support for said member, said support having spaced walls, the` upper terminations of said walls being located within the space provided between said spaced walls of said member and providing means assisting to hold said walls of said member in spaced relation to each other.

6. In combination, a pair of adjacent concrete sections forming a part of a concrete road or the like, and an expansion joint interposed between said sections comprising a closure for connecting the adjacent ends of the concrete sections, said joint consisting of a ilexible seal interposed between the adjacent ends of the concrete sections, integral anchors projecting transversely therefrom and into the respective ends'of the concrete sections, a yielding ller interposed between said concrete sections and seal, and over and above said seal, and a substructure supporting the joint so formed prior to the pouring of the concrete sections, said substructure comprising a stool formed with spaced side walls, and a base for said side walls, saidv side walls being temporarily joined to said flexible seal prior tothe pouring of the concrete sections. Y i

'1. In combination. a pair ofadjacent concrete sections forming part of a concrete road or the like, and an expansion joint interposed between said sections comprising a closure for connecting the adjacent ends of the concrete sections, said joint consisting of a ilexible seal interposed between the adjacent ends oi the concrete sections, said seal having integral anchors engaging the respective ends of the concrete sections, a yielding filler interposed between said concrete sections and said' seal, andmeans for supporting the joint soformed prior to the pouring of the .concrete sections, said means comprising a stool formed with spaced walls temporarily joined to the base of said exible seal prior to the pouring oi the concrete sections.

8. In combination, a pair of Aadjacent concrete sections forming part of a road or the like, and an expansion joint interposed between said sections comprising a closure for connecting -the adjoining sections, said joint consisting of a flexible seal interposed between the adjacent ends of the concrete sections, integral anchors ex- -tendingtherefrom and into the ends of the concrete sections, a yielding filler interposed between and contacting the concrete sections and seal and over and above said seal, and a substructure supporting the joint so formed prior to pouring of the concrete sections, said substructure comprising a stool temporarily joined to said flexible seal prior to the pouring of the concrete sections.

9. A joint for sealing a space between ends of adjacent slab sections, the slab sections having portions which are oil'set with relation to each other, said joint including a ilexible member connected with the respective ends of said slab sections, and a yieldable filler bridging the space between the ends of the slab sections and having portions engaging the onsetportions of said slab sections, said flexible member providing means acting upon said ller to maintain engagement between said filler and the slab sections upon an increase in the dimension of said space between said slab sections. l

10. -A joint for sealing a space between ends of adjacent slab sections, said slab sections having portions which are oiiset with-relation to each other, said joint being comprised of al flexible seal having spaced connected walls, a yieldable iiller capping said seal, and means for connecting said joint to the ends oi the adjacent slab sections, said filler engaging the offset portions of said slab sections, and said seal providing means for maintaining an uninterrupted Contact between the filler and said slab sections upon a change in dimension of the space betweensaid slab sections.

11. A joint ior sealing a space between ends of adjacent slab sections each of which has a shoulder, said joint including a seal formed from a piece of iiexible material and fashioned to provide connected side walls, a iiange extending from each of said walls. said iianges providing means for connecting said seal to the spaced ends of adjacent slab sections, said joint including a nexible seal having oppositely extending anges respectively adapted to be embedded in said slab sections, said seal having an element extending from said ilanges into the space between said slab means for maintaining direct engagement be-A tween said ller and said slab sections upon an in- 'cx'ease in dimension of said space between said slab sections, and a support for said seal consisting oi spaced walls providing an air chamber between the walls and said slab sections, said support being connected to said seal and providing means for maintalningthe seal in its distended position during the pouring of the plastic concrete.

13. A joint for sealing a space between' ends of adjacent slab sections, said joint-'comprising a flexible seal, a yieldable ller, and a support for 'said seal, said seal being formed to provide a portion which extends into saidspace in spaced relation to said slab sections, means for anchoring said seal to the respective slab sections, said yieldable filler having a portion which bridgesthe space between said slab sections capping said seal and having portions located between and engaging said slab sections `and that portion of said seal which extends into the space between said slab sections, said support for said seal consisting ot a hollow structure, said seal capping said structure, and said support providing means for maintaining said seal and iller against collapse during the pouring of the plastic concrete.

14. A .sealing member consisting of a plastic body adapted to` be located between spaced slab sections, resilient means for maintaining said plastic body in engagement with the slab sections. and anchors connecting the resilient means with the slab sections to causemovement oi the plastic body with,the slab sections, said plastic body being formed to extend over the top and. down along the sides of said resilient means and being spaced from said anchors by a shoulder of the material of which said slab sections are formed; said shoulders being located between said anchors and said'plastic body and assisting 16. An expansion joint consisting oi a stool, a j

seal, and a plastic body, said stool being inserted in said'seal and providing means i'or temporarily maintaining said seal distended, said sealbeing inserted in said `plastic body, said sealV having a beaded top, and said plastic body havinga portion extending over said beaded top and having portions located between the sidesot said seal and the lace ci the slab sections to engage said seal and'slab sections.

17. -An expansion joint for sealing a space between the ends of adjacent slab sections, said joint being comprised oi a ilexible seal having spaced connected walls, a yieldable ller capping said seal, said ller being engaged-by said slab sections at the sides and portions of the bottoms thereof, and said seal providing means for maintaining an'luninterrupted contact between the sides and mmm or said nner and and slab sections upon a change in dimension ot the space between said slab sections.

18. An expansion joint for sealing a space between the ends of adjacent slab sections, said joint being comprised of a ilexible seal having spaced connected walls, a yieldable ller capping said seal, said filler engaging the ends ofsaid slab sections, said seal providing means for maintaining an uninterrupted contact between the illler andr said slab sections upon al change in dimension of the space between said slab sections, and a temporary support for the seal comprising a stool constituting a yielding reinforcement between the walls ofsaid seal.

19. In combination with a pair of concrete sections located adjacent each other, an expansion joint comprising a metal seal adapted to close the space intervening between the concrete sections and having a pair oir anchoring formations embedded in said concrete sections, a pair of upwardly extending walls carried by said anchoring formations, said walls being arrangedwith respect to the adjacent ends of said sections to v provide a space for the reception of a filler, a

substantially circular bead joining the upwardly extending walls to form a part ofthe expansible portion of the seal, and a stool supporting the seal in its distended position between the upper -and lower surfaces of said concrete sections durthe top by said circular bead, a; laterally extending anchoring flange joined to each wall, and a stool'supporting the seal intermediate the top and bottom of the joint, said stool providing means for temporarily maintaining said anchoring flanges in'spaced relation to each other.

21. An expansion joint consisting of a channeled cap comprised of a pair of elements each having a downwardly extending flange, a seal having a portion thereofv located in said channeled cap between said elements, anchors for said seal, and a stoolsupporting said seal, said elements forming said cap being separated from each other and from said seal for replacement with respect to said seal and the structure with which said Joint is associated.

22. In combination with a pair of concrete sections located adjacent each other, an expansion joint comprising a metal seal adapted tov close .the space intervening between the concrete sections and having a pair oi' anchoring iianges embedded in said concrete sections, a pair of upwardly extending walls carried by said flanges and located in the space intervening between saidr sections, a substantially circular 'bead joining the upwardly extending walls to form a part of the expansible portion o! the seal, said anchoring ilanges having openings provided therein through which the material oi' said slab sections extends and connects with those portions of each of theslab sections located upon the opposite sides of said flanges, and aestool supporting the seal in its distended position during the pouring of the plastic concrete.

23. An expansion joint comprising the combination oi a screed consisting of a channeled cap having a pair of parallel downwardly extending flanges, with a seal having a substantially circular bead located within said screed, said seal having a pair of upwardly extending connected walls, a laterally extending anchoring angc joined to each wall,'said anchoring anges each having openings formed therein providing means adapted to receive the material of slab sections with which the joint is associated, and a stool supporting the seal and'temporarily spacing the anchoring ilanges of the seal from one another.

24. An expansion joint consisting of a seal having a substantially circular bead. a pair of walls extending downwardly from said bead, and a pair of laterally extending anchoring ilanges one of each being joined to the base oi' each of said walls, said anchoring ilanges having openings provided therein through which the material of said slab sections extends and connects with those portions of each of the slab sections located upon opposite sides of said ilanges, a channeled cap having downwardly extending anges respectively located between each oi' said walls and the adjacent end vof an associated lslab section, and a downwardly extending stool secured to said seal and positioned between and temporarily spacing the walls thereof.

25. In combination with a plurality of sections of concrete or the like, having their edgesl in juxtaposition, a sealing strip extending longitudinally therebetween with its respective side edges embedded therein, said strip comprising a cen-` tral expansible bead at the top and downwardly extending body members joining the bead at each side to the embedded edge portions, said body members diverging outwardly from said bead to said edge portions and a parting stripi'or said sections of concrete having its upper edge extending between said body members and having means below its upper edge for engaging said sealing strip and locating the same.

l 26. In combination with a plurality of sections oi conc/rete or the like, having theiredges in juxtaposition, a sealing strip extending longitudinally therebetween with its respective side edges embedded therein, said strip comprising a closed iiexible central portion having downwardly extending body members joining the same on either side to the embedded edge portions, said body members diverging outwardly toward said edge portions and being curved to allow independent expansion of the same and a parting strip for said section ot concrete having its upper edge extending between said body members and having means below its upper edge for engaging said sealing strip and locating thesame.

ERIC E. HALL.

WILLIAM H. EICHELMAN. 

